You have some great areas to choose from with easy accessibility to public transportation.

@Brian Bond Regarding Germantown, on a personal level, I see that the area has a lot to offer - it's one of Philly's most historic areas and still retains a lot of that charm, it has great transportation links to center city and beyond, it's urban in character but still has some great greenery, strong (although needs improving) business corridor.

Public transportation for mid-class working people seems to be mostly undesired, making the last point not as important IMO.

We only spend money on our house, insurance, food, transportation, and healthcare.

Things to think about are jobs, schools, crimes, entertainment, metro/transportation, quality/cost of living, taxes, and communities.

MattI am a licensed modular retailer and investor of wholesale RE.20 Years in the industry.Previous statements are incorrect.A mobile home or manufactured home is a "HUD Label "structure which is designed for affordable living and the financing is somewhat tuffer for the buyer depending on credit.They have a metal frame underneath that is built in the home for transporting it to the site.

I too am interested in Montclair, I believe that area has a lot of potential and its not too far from a few transportation hubs.

Most of the tanked returns were for bad manufacturing or transport (how do you ship a water heater with smashed controls, dents the size of bowling balls, caved tops, or missing internal piping without a scratch on the shipping carton? 

The transportation is key here in Philadelphia, I agree.

Your money will go a long way here by comparison to California.Public transportation is a work in progress.